Boom clamp



Jan. 11, 1955 N. R. BEALE BOOM CLAMP 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 24,1950 INVENTOR. NOBLE" R. BEALE BY ATTORNEYS N. R. BEALE Jan. 11, 1955BOOM CLAMP 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. NQBLE R. BEALE BY Filed Nov. 24,1950 TJQ Z 7 ATTORNEYS United States Patent BOOM CLAMP Noble R. Beale,Berkeley, Calif. Application November 24, 1950, Serial No. 197,315 6Claims. (Cl. 248-309) otally a pair of clamping jaws movable pivotallyto open and closed positions. Means is provided to maintain the jaws innormally open position, and the aror unclamping A principal object,therefore, of the present invention is to provide a the device may belocated), it is unnecessary for any of the ships crew to climb aloft toaccomplish this end.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a boom clamp ofthe type briefly mentioned hereinabove which permits release of asecured boom from a point remote from the boom clamp itself. Again, theusual necessity for ship personnel to climb aloft to unlash a boom fromsecured position is avoided.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an automatic boomclamp incorporating novel guide means to assist in within the clampingjaws of the device.

Other objects of the present invention will become each of the severalIn the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the device partly in section and withsome of the parts shown fragmentarily.

ig. 2 is a side elevational view of the device.

Fig. 3 is an end elevational view of the device.

Fig. 4 is a generally schematic view of the device showing the operationof the clamping jaws in relation to the locking mechanism.

Fig.

a jaw locking mechanism C.

Frame A comprises, more specifically a pair of spaced oppositely facingparallel plates 11 and 12 secured to one another by a number of spacingbars or bolts, such The upper end of frame A terminates in a pair ofoutwardly diverging guide arms 14, and preferably a plurality of anglebars, such as indicated at 16, are secured to opposite sides of arms 14and project outwardly therefrom to form, in effect, a continuation ofsaid guide arms for facilitating the guiding of a boom into properlocation within jaws B, as will appear more fully hereinafter.

Each of the clamping jaws is identically formed and comprises a somewhattriangular-shaped plate 17 pro as indicated at 13.

Illustrated in Fig. 4.

Means, comprising expansion springs 23, are provided to normally urgethe jaws to open position. More specifically, each spring 23 is attachedat one ends to an associated aperture 13a formed in opposite another asindicated in Fig. 4.

The locking mechanism heretofore designated generally at C is adapted tolock automatically the clamping jaws in closed position. Morespecifically, the locking mechanism comprises cam shaft 26 supportedrotatably in suitable bearings 27, and is provided with wardlyprojecting of said pin and against the inner face of the associated pinsu ing jaw. Each bifurcated cam 29 straddles an assoengaging the inner32 with which said cam is respectively associated. Movement of lever 28in the direction of arrow D will rotate cam. shaft 26 in a directionappropriate to outwardly and cam stud pins lDurmg opening or closingmovements of the jaws, the

as aforesaid.

Referring now particularly to Fig. 4, it is seen that when the jaws arein fully open position. the inner ends thereof establish suitable camsurfaces 39 against which a cargo boom. such as indicated at 41, canbear to cause within the open clamping jaws.

Fig. 5 illustrates how a boom clamp embodying the present invention maybe secured to a ships mast adjacent the top thereof, as indicated at 50,in order to permit securing of a cargo boom 41a adjacent and parallel tosaid mast and well out of the way of normal ship traffic and shipoperations. Fig. also illustrates how lanyard 40, heretofore mentioned,may be run from the control lever of the boom clamp downwardly to thebase of the mast, for example, from which location the locking mechanismof the device may be controlled. It will be recalled that the locking ofthe boom within the clamping jaws is automatic upon the boom being movedby its winch into position within and against the jaws, and that openingof the jaws is automatic upon actuation of the control lever to causethe spring biased stud pins to be withdrawn from engagement with thejaws. In view of the fact that this latter operation is the'only onerequiring manual control, and further in view of the fact that thiscontrol may be effected through simple manipulation of a lanyard orother similar suitable remote control means, it becomes unnecessary forany member of the ships crew to climb aloft so as to be within the nearvicinity of the device during any of its operations.

From the foregoing it is seen that a boom clamp embodying the presentinvention may be installed on practically any type of ship. The devicemay be welded, bolted, or otherwise firmly secured to a ships mast, aspreviously suggested, and in this connection, the frame of the devicemay be formed with a suitable cut-out (indicated fragmentarily at 52)proportioned to engage said mast to facilitate the welding or bolting ofthe device to said mast. It is also believed evident that the presentboom clamp may be secured to a stationary part of a ship other than aships mast, as for example, the boom clamp may be anchored to the deckof the ship in order to permit a cargo boom to be cradled and secured inhorizontal position if so desired.

Although the present invention has been described in some detail by wayof illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, itis understood that certain changes and modifications may be practicedwithin the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A boom clamp comprising a ing clamping jaws each having asubstantially semicircular boom clamping shoe, each jaw independentlypivotally mounted intermediate its ends to said frame, said jaws movablepivotally from a closed position to an open position whereat the outerends of said jaws spread apart from one another and the inner ends ofsaid jaws move toward one another, means to maintain said jaws innormally open position, releasable interlocking elements for lockingsaid jaws in closed position, said interlocking elements comprising apair of stud pins slidable in bearings mounted on said frame and eachrespectively engageable in a registering aperture formed in anassociated jaw when said jaw has been moved to closed position, means toaxially withdraw said stud pins from said apertures to permit opening ofsaid jaws, the inner ends of said jaws presenting cam surfaces againstwhich inwardly frame, a pair of coactdirected force will cause saidinner jaw ends to spread 6 and the jaws to move into closed position,and means comprising a pair of stationary guide arms mounted to saidframe projecting divergently outwardly from said clamping jaws fordefining a V-shaped guideway for guiding a boom into position withinsaid jaws.

2. A boom clamp according to claim 1 and wherein spring elements areprovided to normally spring bias said stud pins toward said associatedjaws whereby said pins automatically engage said respectively associatedapertures when said jaws are closed and said apertures have moved intoregistry with said pins.

3. A boom clamp according to claim 1 and wherein said means to withdrawsaid stud pins from said apertures include cams cngageable with saidpins.

4. A boom clamp according to claim 1 and wherein said means to maintainsaid jaws in normally open position comprises spring elements connectedto said jaws exerting a spring force appropriate to normally urge saidjaws to open position.

5. A boom clamp comprising; a frame including a pair of oppositelyfacing frame plates secured together in parallel spaced relationship byspacing bars, a pair of coacting substantially semi-circular clampingjaws each individually pivotally mounted intermediate its ends to saidframe between said frame plates, said jaws movable pivotally from aclosed position to an open position whereat the outer ends of said jawsspread and the inner ends of said jaws close toward one another, springelements connected to said jaws and said frame respectively to normallyurge said jaws to said open position, releasable interlocking elementsfor locking said jaws in closed position comprising a pair of stud pinsslidable axially in bearings mounted on said frame and each respectivelyengageable in a registering aperture formed in an associated jaw whensaid jaw has moved to closed position, a cam shaft mounted rotatably onsaid frame supporting a pair of cams each having a cam surfaceengageable with a portion of an associated pin, said cams arranged tocam said pins outwardly slidably in their said bearings upon actuationof said cam shaft to cause axial withdrawal of said pins from theirrespectively associated jaw apertures whereupon said jaw springs willurge said jaws to open position, the inner ends of said jaws presentingcam surfaces against which inwardly directed force will cause the innerjaw ends to spread and the jaws to move into closed position, and meanscomprising a pair of stationary guide arms mounted to said frameprojecting divergently outwardly from said clamping jaws for defining aV-shaped guideway for guiding a boom into position within said jaws.

6. A boom clamp according to claim 5 and wherein a control lever isprovided On said cam shaft for actuating said cam shaft, and wherein alanyard attachable to said control lever is provided to permit actuationof said cam shaft via said lanyard from a location remote from said boomclamp.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS618,507 Henderson Jan. 31, 1899 2,423,584 Currier July 8, 1947 2,522,951Knox Sept. 19, 1950 2,564,801 Cook Aug. 21, 1951

